#1 Indiana Hoosiers at #10 Ohio State Buckeyes
Sunday, February 10, 2013, 1:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS
Value City Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Opening Line: Ohio St Pick
Current Line: Ohio St Pick
Opening Total: 139 1/2
Current Total: 138
Opening Money Line: Ohio St -115 / Indiana -105
Current Money Line: Ohio St -115 / Indiana -105
For the fifth week in a row the #1 team has lost a game. The #1 Indiana Hoosiers lost at the Illinois Illini 74-72 Thursday night. In fact four of the top 5 teams in the country have lost this week to unranked teams on the road. The #4 Duke Blue Devils have thus far escaped the carnage but they have a game at Boston College Sunday night. If Duke is upset, then #6 Gonzaga could actually be #1.
For the time being though, Indiana is still ranked #1 as they travel to the #10 Ohio St Buckeyes Sunday afternoon. Indiana is 20-3 this season and 8-2 in the Big Ten. Ohio St is 17-5 overall, and 7-3 in conference. Michigan St leads the Big Ten with a 9-2 record, but Michigan and Wisconsin are 8-3. An Indiana win Sunday would tie them with the Spartans for the conference lead. However, an Ohio St win would create a 4 way tie for second, with Michigan St a game ahead.
Indiana leads the series 100-75 against Ohio St, but the Buckeyes are 51-34 in Columbus. Ohio St has won 7 of the last 8 overall in the Indiana series, and 4 in a row in Columbus. The two teams split the series last year with each winning on their own home court. The two teams will play again in Bloomington March 5.
Indiana is coached by Tom Crean. The only other losses came to Butler by 2 points in overtime in Indianapolis and at home to Wisconsin. The Hoosiers had won 5 straight games before the Illinois loss. Indiana has key wins over Georgia & Georgetown in a tournament in Brooklyn, Ball St, North Carolina, Minnesota, Penn St, and Michigan St, along with road wins at Iowa, Penn St, Northwestern and Purdue. The Hoosiers are 11-10 ATS and the total is 10-9 this season.
Indiana is outscoring teams 83-62 this season. The Hoosiers are second in the nation in scoring. Indiana shoots 50.1% from the field and 42.6% from 3 point range. The Hoosiers are 5th or better in the country in both categories. Indiana makes 74.6% of their free throws and is 26th nationally in that category. The Hoosiers average 39.7 rebounds per game and give up 25.5 per game. Indiana is in the top 17 in both categories. Hoosier opponents are shooting 38% from the field and 31.2% from 3 point range. Indiana is #19 in opponent’s field goal percentage.The Hoosiers average 16 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 turnovers.
Forward Cody Zeller averages 16.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Guard Victor Oladipo averages 13.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 2.3 assists. Forward Christian Watford averages 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Guard Jordan Hulls averages 11.1 points, 3.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. Forward Will Sheehey averages 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal per game. Kevin Ferrell, Remy Abell, and Jeremy Hollowell also get significant minutes. Forward Austin Etherington (knee) is out indefinitely.
Ohio St is coached by Thad Matta. The Buckeyes have losses at Duke, Illinois, Michigan St, and Michigan Tuesday night 76-74, along with a home loss to Kansas. The Michigan loss snapped a 4 game winning streak for the Buckeyes. Ohio St has key wins over Rhode Island and Washington in a tournament in Connecticut, Long Beach St, Nebraska twice, at Purdue, Michigan, Iowa, at Penn St, and Wisconsin. Ohio St is 12-7-1 ATS and the total is 8-11.
Ohio St is outscoring teams 72-58. The Buckeyes are #21 in points allowed. Ohio St is shooting 46.2% from the field and 37.7% from 3 point range. The Buckeyes are in the top 50 nationally in both categories. Ohio St makes 69.6% of their free throws. The Buckeyes average 36.7 rebounds per game and give up 28.6 per game. Ohio St opponents are shooting 38.3% from the field and 32.4% from 3 point range. The Buckeyes are 22nd in field goal percentage allowed. Ohio St averages 14 assists, 7 steals, 5 blocks, and 11 turnovers.
Forward Deshaun Thomas averages 19.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Guard Lenzelle Smith, Jr. averages 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Guard Aaron Craft averages 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2 steals per game. LaQuinton Ross averages 8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Sam Thompson averages 6.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Evan Ravenel averages 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Shannon Scott averages 5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Amir Williams averages 4.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Indiana is 5-1 ATS after a straight up loss, 2-5 against teams with winning records, 2-6 overall and in Big Ten games, and 1-4 after failing to cover. The over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 in this series.
Ohio St is 9-2 ATS in Sunday games, 8-2 after a straight up loss, 4-1 at home, 3-1-1 against teams with winning records, 9-3 against teams with winning road records, 5-2-1 overall, and in Big Ten games. The favorite has covered 7 of the last 8 in this series. The Buckeyes are 8-1 ATS in the last 9 against the Hoosiers including 4-0 in Columbus.
Both of these teams are coming off heartbreaking 2 point losses to conference rivals on the road, However, they don’t have time to think about what went wrong. The loser will fall farther behind in the conference race, and there aren’t a lot of games left to make it up. I think Indiana pulls off the mild upset on the road, but it won’t be a cakewalk by any stretch.
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